Door-locking switch



July 5, 1960 J. B. GAIDA DOOR-LOCKING SWITCH Filed March 14, 1957 INVENTOR.

United States Patent DOOR-LOCKING SWITCH Joseph B. Gaida, 511 9th Ave. S., St. Cloud, Minn.

Filed Mar. 14, 1957, Ser. No. 646,141

*3 Claims. (Cl. 200-44) This invention relates to electrical switching apparatus and more particularly to a multi-position switch for operating reversible door-locking and unlocking motors and the like.

This is a continuation-in-part invention previously disclosed in my co-pending application for United States Letters Patent S.N. 527,090, filed August 8, 1955, now Patent No. 2,904,988, and entitled, Power Door Locking System.

An object of my invention is to provide a new and improved multi-position electric switch of simple and inexpensive construction and operation.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a novel rotary multi-position switch adapted for use with a reversible motor or the like which operates the locking apparatus of a door-latching mechanism.

A further object of my invention is the provision of an improved rotary, multi-position switch which is applicable to many dilferent typm of automobile door-locking mechanisms for operating an electric motor drive for the mechanism with only a minute movement of the key in one direction or the other.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of power-operated door mechanisms applied in front and rear doors of an automobile;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation detail view of a portion of a door latching mechanism of the type common to many automobiles;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation detail view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation assembly view of the switching apparatus operable with the door-latching mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a section view taken on a substantially vertical plane as indicated at 5-5 in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a schematic view of the circuit diagram of the power door-locking system.

The present invention is well adapted for use in a power door-locking system of the type shown in the drawings. In Fig. 1, the front and rear doors D and D are shown with the door-latching and locking mechanisms therein. The door-latching mechanism of doors D and D are substantially identical andinclude a mounting plate 10,

having a side flange 10a and a rear flange 10b which are disposed in substantially normal relation to each other. Of course the door-latching mechanisms include rotary latching members 12 which are common to many types of latching mechanisms and are clearly pictured in application S.N. 527,090 and these rotary latching members 12 are adapted to be released upon operation of the release lever indicated by the numeral 16 and having an upstanding arm 16a which is provided with a flange 16b against which the external thumb button (not shown) of the door handle presses for operating the release lever Patented July 5, 1960 16 so as to permit the rotary latching member 12 to release the door. Release lever 16 is mounted on a pivot pin 16b, and the lever 16 has a third, very short arm 16e projecting outwardly therefrom to comprise a locking abutment, which when engaged, will preclude shifting of the lever 16 in a counter-clockwise direction. The flange 16b of the release lever 16 has an enlarged opening 16c therein which receives the conventional key bar 17 therethrough which is also connected to the conventional rotary key cylinder, to be turned by the key to lock and unlock the mechanism. The lever arm 16 is normally urged in a clockwise direction by means of a torsion spring 18 and is held from swinging substantially in a clockwise direction by means of the small inturned ear 10c which is rigid with the mounting plate 10.

The latching mechanism is also provided with a shift arm 19 swingably mounted on the flange 10a of the mount-. ing plate and in alignment with the key bar and slotted to receive the key bar therethrough. The shift arm 19 may thereby be swung by rotation of the key bar 17. A shift bar 20 is mounted on the flange 10a of the mounting plate 10 by means of a pin 21 extending through a slot 20b and thereby adapting the shift bar 20 to move in vertical reciprocation. The shift bar 20 may also be guided at the lower end thereof for vertical reciprocation.

' Shift bar 20 has a shift arm-receiving channel 20a at the upper end thereof which received the rounded outer end 19b of the shift arm 19. The vertical movement of shift bar 20 is thereby controlled by the arm 19. The shift bar 20 also has a channel 20d formed intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof for movement into obstructing relation with the short abutment arm 16 e of the release lever 16, thereby precluding swingingof the lever 16 and effecting a locking of the door.

Releasing of the rotary door-latching member 12 can also be accomplished by swinging of the door handle H to effect a swinging motion of the bell crank lever 22 which is mounted on the plate 10. The bell crank lever 22 is connected by means of a rod or link 23 to the short bell crank arm 24 on the handle H.

It should further be noted that the vertically reciprocable shift bar 20 may be moved upwardly and downwardly by means of a shift arm 25 having the diminished and rounded inner end 25a projecting into the channel 20b of shift bar 20. Ann 25 is swingable about a pivot 25b and may be manually operated by means of the upright push-pull rod 26.

It will be noted that the push rod shift arm 28 of the locking mechanism on the rear door D accomplishes substantially the same function as the arm 25 on the front door D but is shaped slightly differently in the form of a bell crank lever having an upstanding arm 28a to which is connected a rod or link 29, the other end portion of which is connected to a bell crank lever 30. The second short arm portion 30a of hell crank lever 38 is connected to an upright push-pull rod 27. By means of vertical movement of rod 27, the push rod shift arm 28 will be swung to effect a similar operation as that of the arm 25.

In each of the doors D and D rigid strap pedestals 31 and 32 respectively are mounted, which carry motors M for producing a power drive for the locking apparatus. Substantially upright connecting rods 36 extend from the motor M to the shift arms 25 and 28 respectively and have adjustable turn buckles 37 in the central portion thereof. The lower ends of rod 36 are drivably connected to the drive outputs of the motors M by means of a lost motion connection so as to permit the motor to start and gain an initial impetus before the driving relation to rod 36 is established. The motors M can thereby easily drive the rods 36 in vertical reciprocation for lock-- ing and unlocking the mechanisms.

Each of the door-locking and unlocking mechanisms is provided with an improved rotary electric-switching device indicated in general by the numeral 39, which is shown in detail in Figs. 4 and 5 and shown schematically in the Fig. 6. The switching device has a generally laminar construction and may be of substantially any suitable external configuration such as the generally teardrop shape shown. The mounting device has a central contact-carrying plate which is constructed of an insulating material such as one of numerous types of plastics. The contact-carrying plate 40 has a circular opening 40a therein which defines the rotor-mounting chamber. A plurality of switch contacts 41, 42 and 43 are embedded into the inner peripheral surface of the plate 40, and the contacts 41--43 are substantially flat and arcuate inconfiguration so as to conform to the peripheral contour of the opening 40a A flat and substantially cylindrically shaped contact member or rotor '44 is carried within the opening 40a of plate 49 and has an external configuration substantially identical to the internal configuration of the opening 40a. The rotor 44 has a substantially rectangular and diametrically disposed slot 44a extending therethrough and receiving the key bar 17 substantially in the manner shown in Fig. 2, whereby to facilitate turning of'the rotor 44 when the key bar is turned. The rotor 44 also has an arcuate spanner contact 44b embedded in the outer peripheral surface thereof for engaging one or a pair of the contacts 4143. It will be noted'that the spanner contact 44b is sufficient in length, in a direction around the circumference of the rotor 40, so as to simultaneously engage a pair of the adjacent contacts 4143.

The switch 39 is also provided with a pair of cover plates 45 and 46 which are substantially identical in eX- ternal configuration to that of the contact-carrying plate 40. The cover plates 45 and 46 also have openings 45a and 46a therein which are slightly smaller in diameter than the opening 401: in the plate 40. The cover plates 45 and 46 are thereby defined ends for the rotor mounting chamber in the plate 40 and engage the rotor 44 forpositively retaining the rotor in the opening 40a and retaining the contact 44b in engaging relation with one or more of the contacts 41-43.

It will be seen that the contact surfaces are substantially sealed from dust or other material which might interfere with the proper operation of the switch and furthermore the contact 44b of the rotor firmly engages each of the several contacts 41-43 when rotated into alignment therewith.

Normally it is desired to maintain the rotor 44 in substantially the position shown in Fig. 4. To this end, 'a leaf spring 47 is afiixed at 48 to the mounting plate and has the upper end portion thereof bearing against one side of the key bar 17. It will therefore be seen, that due to the resiliency of the leaf spring 47, the key bar 17 will be urged back to its normal upright position shown in Fig. 2 after it is turned by means of the key in the lock. The spanner contact 44b will thereby be returned to the position shown in Fig. 4 wherein only the contact 42 is engaged thereby. It should be recognized that when the key bar 17 is turned through only a few degrees the spanner contact 44b will engage one of the other contacts 41 or 43 in conducting relation so as to produce a closed electric circuit between the contact 42 and the other stationary contact 43 or 41.

It should further be recognized that in most automobiles, only the front doors D are provided with the keylocking and unlocking mechanisms and that the rear doors are not ordinarily adapted to be opened by means of a key. Specifically referring to Fig. 6 it should be noted that a two-winding motor M is mounted in each of the doors D and D One of the windings in each of the doors is connected in parallel from the relay contact 55; and the other-of the winding in each of the motors M is connected in parallel with a corresponding winding in each of the other motors M from the relay contact 56, so that when one or the other of the relays 57 or 58 is energized, one of the windings in each of the motors will be energized.

It should be noted that one of the switching devices 39 is mounted in each of the front doors D and a similar switching device 39' is mounted in a third alternate position within the motor vehicle, preferably on the dashboard or in a similar location so that all of the doors may be controlled from any single switch location. All of the contacts 43 of each of the several switches 39 and 39' are connected to the relay 57. Each of the contacts 41 of the several switches is connected to the relay 58 for operating the same. Each of the contacts 42 of the several switches is connected to the battery B or other source of electric power in the automobile. The source of electric power or battery B is also connected through the fuses f'to the switch contacts 55 and 56 of the relays.-

It will therefore be seen that when any one of the switching devices 39 is operated by the rotating of the rotor 44 thereof through only a few degrees, corresponding windings in each of the motors M will be energized so as to turn all of the motors in one direction such as to lock all of the door-locking mechanisms simultaneously. When the motors have been energized, the key may be released and the key bar 17 will return to its normal upright position shown in Fig. 2 by operation of the leaf spring 47, and the key may be then withdrawn from the key barrel. Similarly the other windings of the several motors may be energized to unlock the mechanisms.

The ruggedness of this switching device is an important feature of the present invention. The switching device shown in the drawings has been installed for substantially two years in an automobile for operating four motors arranged in the manner shown. Previous to the installation in the automobile, the switch was operated more than seven thousand times. There has not been a single case of failure in the preliminary testing before installation or since installation.

It will therefore be seen that the present invention provides an extremely simple and rugged electric switching apparatus adapted for use in operating the reversible motors of a power door-locking mechanism or the like.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, detail, arrangement and proportion of the parts without departing from the scope of my invention which consists of the matter described herein and set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination of a motor vehicle door latching mechanism having movable release means and a locking element movable with respect to .the release means into locking and unlocking positions, key-operated means in the door and including a rotatably oscillatable key bar rotatable in opposite directions from normal position when the key is turned, and a reversible electric-ally operated power source connected with the locking element for moving the same into locking and unlocking positions; and an oscillatable switch in the door for operating the power source, said switch having a stator and a rotor with opposed relatively rotatable circumferential portions, the rotor being drivably connected with the key-operated bar to be turned thereby, said stator having on said portion a pair of circumferentially spaced contacts connected .to the power source for supplying electrical energy to cause operation of the power source in forward and reverse directions respectively, and said stator also having a third contact between said pair of contacts and supplying electrical energy thereto, said rotor having a single spanning contact slidable on the stator contacts and dimensioned for simultaneous engagement with the third contact and one of the other contacts on the stator when the rotor is turned in one direction and then the other direction,

whereby to move the locking element into locking and unlocking positions by turning the key in said means.

2. The invention set forth in claim 1 and including resilient means on the latching mechanism and bearing against the key-operated bar for rotating the same and the rotor into centered position wherein the spanning contact is aligned with said third contact whereby when the key is turned in one direction and then released, the rotor returns to centered position to disconnect the third contact from the other stator contacts.

3. The combination of a motor vehicle door-latching mechanism having mbvable release means and a locking element movable with respect to the release means into locking and unlocking positions, conventional key-operated door-locking means in the door and including a rotatably oscillatable element to be turned in opposite directions from normal position in response to turning of the key in the means, and a reversible electrically operated power source connected with the locking element for moving the same into locking and unlocking positions; and an oscillatable switch in the door for operating the power source, said switch having a stator and a rotor with opposed relatively rotatable circumferential portions, the rotor being drivably connected with said element in the key-operated means to be turned thereby, one of said circumferential portions having a pair of circumferentially spaced contacts connected to the power source for supplying electrical energy to cause operation of the power source in forward and reverse directions and also having a third contact between said spaced contacts and supplying electrical energy thereto, the other of said circumferential portions having a single spanning contact slidable on the other contacts and dimensioned for simultaneous engagement with the third contact and one of the other contacts when the rotor is turned in one direction and then in the other direction, whereby to move the locking element into locking and unlocking positions by turning the key in said means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Ewen .4. Oct. 19, 1926 

